A 30-day public comment period is underway for the City of Mesa's proposed Fiscal Year 2015-2019 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and the proposed Fiscal Year 2015/2016 Annual Action Plan regarding funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The Consolidated Plan is a comprehensive planning document that identifies the City's overall needs in housing and community development for low and moderate-income residents and outlines a five year strategy to address those needs.
The Annual Action Plan contains the City's short-term goals and strategies, including specific activities recommended for funding under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs. The funds are used to help qualifying residents and assist in the prevention or elimination of slum or blighting influences.
The City has the following HUD funding allocations for FY 15/16:
CDBG$3,199,268 HOME $ 932,007 ESG $ 282,825Total: $4,414,100
A public hearing to review the proposed Annual Action Plan and Five-Year Consolidated Plan will be held by the Mesa Housing and Community Development Advisory Board Thursday, April 2 at 6 p.m. in the Lower Level Council Chambers, 57 E. First St. This will provide an opportunity for residents to comment in person regarding the plan.
The public hearing will also provide an opportunity for feedback about the Citizen Participation Plan, which is part of the Five-Year Consolidated Plan to encourage citizens to play an advisory role in the planning, implementation and assessment of various federally funded projects. The meeting will also allow for comment on the Analysis of Impediments, a required review of impediments or barriers that affect the rights of fair housing choice.
Copies of the various plans are available for review on the City's Housing and Community Development website at http://bit.ly/1F0GqKs.
The public comment period will end Thursday, April 16. City Council is expected to approve the Five-Year Consolidated Plan and the Annual Action Plan at its April 20 meeting.
Written comments should be submitted to: City of Mesa, Housing and Community Development MS-9870, Consolidated and Annual Plan, Attn: Ray Thimesch, P.O. Box 1466, Mesa, AZ 85211-1466. Comments may also be emailed to Neighbor.info@mesaaz.gov.
The City of Mesa has participated in the CDBG program for 40 years, the ESG program for 27 years and the HOME program for 23 years. During this time, Mesa has allocated more than $100 million for a variety of activities, including capital improvements, housing, economic development, public services, homeless assistance, emergency shelter and neighborhood improvements within qualified census tracts.
March 19, 2015
Public Information and Communications
Contact: Kevin Christopher
Tel. 480-644-4699
kevin.christopher@mesaaz.gov